ITHACA MURDER: Suspect has mental health job history

Anthony Borrelli
Ithaca Journal

The man accused of murdering a UPS driver in Ithaca — he now claims he was trying to kill President-elect Donald Trump — has a history working with the New York State Office of Mental Health, officials confirmed Thursday.

Justin Barkley, 38, remains in the Tompkins County jail, awaiting an evaluation about whether he is competent to stand trial, after his unsuccessful attempt Monday to admit guilt in the murder of 52-year-old Candor resident William Schumacher on Dec. 8 outside the Walmart store at 135 Fairgrounds Memorial Parkway in Ithaca.

Justin Barkley

On Thursday, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) confirmed Barkley is a former employee who was not employed by the state at the time of the homicide.

Barkley was a licensed master social worker from September 2008 until May 2016 at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, where his final position was program director of the Massena Wellness Center in St. Lawrence County, according to state OMH spokesman James Plastiras.

In May, Barkley voluntarily left St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center for a position with the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).

After starting work at the OCFS Finger Lakes Residential Center on May 4, Barkley resigned effective Aug. 8, according to OCFS spokeswoman Monica Mahaffey.

State officials declined to release further details about Barkley's roles in the agencies, beyond the brief statements released Thursday.

During Monday's appearance in Tompkins County Court, Judge John Rowley refused to accept a plea following Barkley’s comments about Trump and adjourned further proceedings to Jan. 6, pending an evaluation. 

ITHACA MURDER: Suspect confessed after shooting, records show

Prosecutors say Barkley, a Dryden resident, intentionally caused the death of Schumacher — the two men were strangers — early Dec. 8.

The Tompkins County grand jury has indicted Barkley on felony counts of second-degree murder and menacing a police officer or peace officer. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in state prison.

Authorities say the homicide took place shortly before 1 a.m., and court papers describe a relatively quiet late night around the Walmart store, with some customers picking up merchandise or waiting in their cars, moments before they heard gunfire.

Schumacher was a seasonal UPS driver who had stopped to get something to eat during his overnight shift, according to Susan Rosenberg, a spokeswoman for the Atlanta-based package delivery company. He was about four weeks into his second stint as a seasonal driver of a tractor-trailer hauling packages between UPS processing hubs.

After fleeing from the scene of the killing, court papers say, Barkley fired a "sound shot" from his rifle to keep law enforcement officers from coming after him once he pulled into the driveway of his Dryden Road home.

Barkley was taken into custody by Ithaca police without a struggle and no injuries to himself or police after a nearly eight-hour standoff.

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